Note to BOD members

It appears based on the 2 polls I posted that either the Brethren are not members of KCBS or they don't care what direction the BOD moved in. One question I asked how the BOD should spend money such as the new SAMS deal and had about 20 people voted. WIth almost 15000 members it looks like they don't care.

So to read these polls it looks like everybody at the Brethren thinks you are doing a great job. I guess all I can say is keep up the good work.

White Dog BBQ said:

I understand this was posted with a heavy dose of sarcasm, but what exactly is your point? That somehow the people on this forum are an apathetic bunch because they didn't respond to your polls? Seems like a heck of a jump to me.

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My point is a lot of people that do competition here like to complain about how the KCBS does things but when you ask what would you like them to do nobody seems to care. It also explains why some people didn't get elected last year. Either the membership here is generally speaking not KCBS members (less than 1000 out of nearly 15000) or they just don't care. Are you a member of KCBS?

bbqbull said:

Sorry I missed these 2 polls Ford.
Can you point them out to me, I am a member of KCBS and would like to vote on the issues.
Thanks,
Mike

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They are in the competition section and are about a week old now. A few hundred viewed them and only 20 or so cared eough to do something.

Both good points. Maybe people just didn't think it was worth while or didn't like the answers. I wanted more detail but polls are limited to 100 characters including the question so you are limited in wording. That's why you can also comment.

White Dog BBQ said:

Not sure how it's relevant, but I am a KCBS member -- and I voted for John Markus, Phil, Jeff and other unsuccessful candidates that the Brethren have (informally) gotten behind. I've corresponded with KCBS Board Members and Candidates on KCBS issues. I've also served as a Board member for the Mid-Atlantic BBQ Association.

I still think you are making a huge jump in your conclusion based on the poor response to your polls. Did you consider that the response rate was low because:

1. They fell on a busy competition weekend.
2. They were posted on one of the less trafficked forums.
3. People didn't like the set answers you provided.
4. People didn't care for the questions you asked.

Quite frankly, I missed your threads because I had a busy weekend and didn't see them. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Either way, I don't think the response rate to your polls is the appropriate gauge of Brethren interest in KCBS affairs.

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I had some of those names on m ballots as well (wife was alive then and a member so I got to vote twice). Too bad so many others didn't vote.

I understand your reason for not seeing it but how did that happen? Well it meant that nobody else voted or posted for a couple of days for them to drop off the first page. That means that they read it and chose not to vote or post. To me that says we don't really care or all we want to do is complain.

bigabyte said:

Are BOD members still reading these forums?:becky:

I voted, but I'm not sure all KCBS members with a keen interest in BOD direction felt the poll was something they needed to answer to get any attention.

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I know Merl is because the Dells prize money issue surfaced here on a Sunday and I got a call late Sunday night from Merl who just got back from Repping a contest without having internet and he wanted to know what I knew about it. Monday morning he called Mike Lake (President) and the issue was resolved. I'd still like to hear the whole story on that mess but at least the cooks were looked after.

As to members not caring, I can udnerstand that but I get tired of hearing how the BOD is doing everything wrong yet nobody wants to offer advice to them. There's this false rumor about what goes on in meetings and people should take the time (3-5 hours) to listen to the podcast if they really want to know what's going on. I started listening in Feb by dial in and now listen to the podcasts. Wish all members would have listened to the April podcast. It's a 5 hour eye opener. And May really surprised me at how much time we can spend to design a new banner to hang at all contests. Too bad Phil wasn't on that committee. And I should get my new conpetition Brethren banner tomorrow I hope.

Jorge said:

I don't know that I disagree with your conclusion based on past history.

However, you are making a huge leap with no facts that I can see to support it. At best your polls indicate apathy, perhaps towards KCBS or perhaps towards the polls themselves. You sample size was too small, you have no data to indicate who was in the sample, etc...

I do think it was a pretty good idea, though. It might help the current board if they did something similar and sent it to the membership. It would be simple to put a well thought out poll on the website, in the member section, and announce it via email and in the Bullsheet. For those without internet access a poll could be included in the Bullsheet to be mailed back.

my .02

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I think the KCBS is ahead of you at least they recently did a survey (MMA did it) to find out more about members and their wants. It was however based on gathering demographics to sell the KCBS as an organization to advertisers. All this is mentioned in the May minutes although I think some detail went to BOD members after the meeting. It's all about the money. At least that's my conclusion based on listening to 4 months of meetings and doing a lot of reading and asking questions. By the time membership in general wakes up it will be too late to keep the KCBS like it was and most folks I think want things to be like they used to be. In the May executive session they apparently discussed 4-5 new sponsor opportunities - this was in the public discussion of the meeting.

I'd love to see the KCBS ask members what they want to see the KCBS emphasize. From the recent BOD vote we know the majority think spending on TOY is more important than charity.

And you're correct that I drew some pretty wide reaching conclusions from just a few responses. But my conclusions are not based on the responses but by the lack of responses. So your apathy comment is probably correct. I'm thinking that less than 10% of members are KCBS members but again that's a conclusion based on the last elections.

Candy Sue said:

I hang out here, though I'm not opening my mouth (or typing on the keyboard much). I do read the competition board and the KCBS Board board. I am trying hard to stay out of trouble...

Ford, I didn't answer your survey because my answers were not reflected on your list of possibles.

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Keep reading and stay out of trouble. We need the BOD to be aware of what people are saying.

Only some many characters allowed (100) for the entire survey. I was hoping people would post other answers in the discussion.